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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
CatholicMom | Holy Women's History Month | Lenten Reflections | women's history month
Little is known about the life of Saint Dymphna, but author Lawrence G. Lovasik was able to procure enough information in his 1953 book, Saint for the Afflicted, that offers insight into her path to sainthood. Before becoming a saint, Dymphna lost her mother when she was only 14 years old, and her father was so distraught after the loss of his wife that he seemingly fell into a deep depression and almost became manic in trying to fill the void left by his deceased wife. It is because of him that Dymphna became known as the “Patron Saint of Nervous and Mental Ill Patients,” as she was forced to flee her home when he tried to marry her. Ultimately, after refusing his proposal, she was killed by her own father. I first learned about Saint Dymphna over two decades ago while pursuing my bachelor's degree in psychology. I had been experiencing some personal challenges and somehow stumbled upon this Irish saint, who I would later learn is the patron saint for mental illness. As I’ve often heard from others, the saints often find us rather than us seeking them first — and Dymphna definitely found me when she knew I would need her most. Prefer to Listen—Audio version available!
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The-Rosary-In-Our-Hands | family prayer
Dear Mom and Dad, For the longest time, I looked at praying the Rosary as a weekly chore, especially since we used to pray it together on Sunday evenings in my little bedroom. I remember kneeling in front of the twin bed with my hands holding the Rosary Grandma gave me for my first Holy Communion. The beads were that clear, crystal-looking type that seemed to have a rainbow of colors that reflected off them, changing depending on the light. I remember fidgeting with them as I continuously adjusted my position from kneeling upright to resting on my ankles until you noticed, Dad. You would promptly reposition me back upright. I remember my fingers moving from one bead to the next and opening my eyes to silently count how many beads were left of each decade, trying to determine how much longer it would take us to finish. When we prayed, I didn't realize I was spending time praying with our Blessed Mother.
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